Governor gets 60 petitions on Sanjay Dutt pardon

Apr 6, 2013, 05.11AM ISTTNN

MUMBAI: Maharashtra governor K Sankaranarayanan has received 60 representations from various individuals and organisations seeking or opposing clemency for actor Sanjay Dutt, whose conviction for illegally possessing weapons was recently upheld. Sankaranarayana has forwarded the requests to the additional chief secretary (home) for further action.

The governor's office said the representations had been received from all over India and even abroad. A Raj Bhavan statement said about 25 representations opposed clemency for the actor. Petitions from Justice (retd) Markandey Katju, chairperson, Press Council of India (PCI), have also been received. He was the first to publicly seek clemency for Dutt.

Among those who have opposed leniency for the actor is activist Abha Singh. In her petition Singh said if any decision was taken to interfere with the Supreme Court judgment and a pardon given, the public would suspect it had been done after getting influenced by the strong statutory authority of the PCI chairman.

The others who have made representations include the Federation of Western India Cine Employees, various human-rights organizations and several advocates. An earlier petition by actor-turned-MP Jaya Prada was sent to the home department on March 28.

Dutt has already said he would not seek pardon and would serve his five-year term.